photo from Caked Coffee

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: www.vrg.org/restaurant

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

Caked Coffee, 1651 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON M6P 1A6 Canada

Family owned Caked Coffee notes on their website that they offer many gluten-free items and vegan desserts hand-crafted daily and that their products exclude refined sugars, sweeteners, and artificial colors or flavors. A couple of their hot dishes are Vegan Butter Chick-un Wrap and Quesadillas featuring marinated “chick-un” bites with tangy sauce. Besides brownies and cookies, they offer a myriad of baked goods including Banana Bread, Cinnamon Buns (with or without frosting), Cinnamon Rolls with cookie butter, Cupcakes with Ganache filling, Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Lemon, as well as Chai and Vanilla Biscoff. If you like to have your cake and other goodies too, Cake Jars might be your answer with layered desserts in flavors such as Coconut Cream, Mango Mousse, Lemon Merengue, Cookies N Cream, Caramel Latte, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Biscoff, Tuxedo, Black Forest, and Strawberry Cream. You may also order their decorated Cakes in similar flavors.

Eden’s Vegan Eatery, 34D La Grande Princess, Rt. 75, Christiansted, St Croix, VI 00820

Eden’s Vegan Eatery specializes in plant-based Caribbean cuisine. Soups such as red pea, kallaloo, and coconut vegetable are made fresh daily. Daily lunch options include curried tofu, chickpea loaf, BBQ tofu, onion steak, and BBQ nuggets. Lasagna-of-the-day options include crumbles, lentil, tofu-spinach, vegetable medley, and mushroom lasagna.

Greens and Grains, Ellisburg Shopping Center, 22 NJ-70, Cherry Hill Township, NJ 08034

Founded by the loving duo, Nicole and Lambros, that believe in the importance of a plant-based lifestyle, Greens and Grains banishes the misconception that no meat means no flavor. Their menu features a variety of vegan style favorites like breakfast tacos, panini, meatless meatballs, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, sesame crunch salad, nutritious smoothies, and so much more!

Just Falafel, 2111 W. Loop S., Ste. 100, Houston, TX 77027

Just Falafel declares, “… we’re all about respect – respect for animals, the environment, and our planet.” For Starters there’s Beet Avocado Toast featuring beetroot hummus, pickled red onions, and everything bagel seasoning on gluten-free bread; a Pita chip version of Loaded Falafel Nachos with hummus, tzatziki, falafel, Kalamata olives, cucumber, feta cheese, smoked paprika, and more—just to name a few choices. Mains like Beetroot Falafel Burger patty with sweet potato fries sports avocado, tomatoes, pickled onions, tzatziki, and hummus on a sesame bun. Tofu “Egg Salad” Sandwich is crafted with mayo, mustard, celery, black salt, radishes, green onion, and turmeric on sourdough bread. There’s also a Taco version of this. Original Falafel Wrap pita offers hummus, pickles, radishes, tahini sauce, mint, and parsley. Besides various Tacos, Gyros, and Wraps some with jackfruit, gyro protein, and or feta or cheddar cheese, they offer Pasta dishes such as Mediterranean Harvest with Farfalle, red and green peppers, black olives, Feta, tomato, and baguette slices, or Crispy Baked Mac ‘N Cheese featuring white miso cheese sauce and breadcrumb topping. So many Sides Oh my! Soups include Lentil or Green Goddess with broccoli, kale spinach cilantro, parsley, onion, garlic, and cashew cream. There’s also Turmeric Rice, Tabbouleh, Za’atar with pita bread, and many more. Fries Lovers will appreciate Friendz Fries, a huge assortment that includes, Truffle Fries with truffle oil, truffle mayo, and parmesan cheese; Masala Fries with Indian spices; and others. Room for Dessert? They have Chocolate or Pistachio Baklava, both crafted with phyllo dough, maple syrup, organic cane sugar, rose water, and spices, or Beetroot and Carrot Halwa, drizzled with orange coconut cashew cream and pistachios. Raw, gluten-free and sugar free? Enter No Bake Chocolate Brownies with chocolate ganache. Just Falafel invites you to see “…just how delicious compassion can be.”

L’Artisane, 2526 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33134

L’Artisane is a French vegan bakery. Menu items may vary and many of their dishes offer gluten-free versions. Besides all sorts of coffee drinks and hot chocolate, their Famous Brunch beckons with Tiramisu Waffles–a hint of coffee, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and berries; French Toast with oat milk vanilla ice cream, Bourbon maple syrup, berry compote, and pecan crumble; as well as several pancake options like Guava and  Cream Cheese, Mango and Coconut , with mango and passionfruit compote, chocolate streusel, and hazelnut whipped cream, and Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes with macerated strawberries, crumble, pistachios, and vanilla whipped cream. As you might hope, copious Croissant choices await. Here are just a few: Egg-less Croissant is tofu scramble, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, and vegan mozzarella. Sautéed Wild Mushrooms Croissant features black truffles, cream, parmesan cheese, and mushrooms crumble; and Croque Monsieur Croissant has ham, cheddar, Mornay sauce; and roasted tomatoes. Just Egg is the basis for Quiche, Omelets and scrambled Soy Chorizo Eggs with melted cheddar tomato, chickpeas, sweet potatoes hash, and cilantro. Another possibility is Walnut Pesto Campanelle Pasta with green beans, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and vegan parm cheese. For lunch, Appetizers include Lentils Soup with Impossible sausage; French Onion Soup with sourdough toast and Swiss cheese; and Baltimore Style Crab cake with remoulade. Some main dishes are Beefless Bourguignon stewed with red wine, mushrooms, and carrots; Potato-Chickpeas Curry with cilantro, brown Basmati rice, and Papadam; or Ravioli Almond Ricotta and Artichokes made fresh, in house with sage brown butter–choose Pomodoro or pesto sauce. Sweet Bakery Croissants include Pain au Chocolate, Almond Croissant, Nocciolata (hazelnut), Strawberry-Basil Cheesecake, and more. Deciding between a Muffin and Croissant? Coconut-Rum Dulce de leche Cruffin to the rescue! Nuts for Donuts?  There’s Boston Cream filled with Almond Pastry Cream, topped with chocolate streusel, chocolate glazed Rocher filled with Hazelnut pastry cream and caramelized hazelnuts. There’s even a shout out to a beloved vegan cartoon character–The Lisa Simpson with Strawberry glaze and sprinkles. They also have Banana, Marble, Lemon, or Carrot Bread, Madeleines, or Strawberry Rose, Mango-Passionfruit Macarons, plus more.

Plantaqueria, 124 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78205

With “handmade tortillas and scratch made salsas,” the mission at Plantaqueria is to “…change attitudes toward a healthier, cholesterol-free diet—one taco at a time.” Many gluten-free and soy-free options are available. Good Morning Breakfast Tacos! The large menu includes the very popular La Lucha, with soy chorizo, seasoned potatoes, and vegan scrambled egg topped with melted vegan cheese; the also popular La Barbara with jackfruit Barbacoa, onion, and cilantro; La Ranchera with potatoes, Pico de Gallo, salsa ranchera, and grilled nopales (cactus); or Potato, Egg, and Cheese with vegan scrambled egg, seasoned potatoes and melted cheese topping—to name a few choices. All come with a handmade flour or GF corn tortilla. For Lunch their “top seller” is Mini Tacos filled with your choice of plant-based protein. Another option is Birria Quesatacos with two pan fried corn tortillas filled with jackfruit birria, cheese, and shredded cabbage with a side of consommé for dipping. Both dishes are topped with onion and cilantro and come with house-made salsa and lime on the side. Some Sides are Guacamole; Elote en Vaso—seasoned, roasted corn in a cup topped with vegan mayo, chili powder, cilantro, and lime; Mexican Rice cooked in tomato broth; and Refried Pinto Beans or house-made, whole pinto Charro Beans with grilled Pico in a savory broth. Thirsty? They offer scratch-made Aguas Frescas, Horchata, Cold brew and locally roasted Coffee as well as Jarrito Mexican Sodas and Tepache by Puro Tepache!—a probiotic pineapple drink . They also list a few locally made, Cold pressed organic Juices. To end on a Sweet note, they offer house-made cinnamon-sugared flour Buñuelo Chips and more.

The Vegan Sushi Spot, 1701 California St., Houston, TX 77006

The Vegan Sushi Spot invites you to “Experience the rainbow” with fish-free Sushi focused on sustainability. Here’s a sampling of their numerous Specialty Rolls Sushi offerings beginning with their two most popular. Papi Shrooms has spicy king oyster mushroom, broccolini, micro-greens, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, spicy mayo, sweet sauce, basil, and crunchy garlic. Green Goddess offers garlic butter spinach, asparagus, crunchy potato strings, and avocado topped by cucumber and yuzu shiso chimichurri. To name a few more of the many available, other Sushi dishes include  Mami, Hot Tamale with cucumber, asparagus, sweet potato, avocado, spicy tunah (carrots), Thai chili pearls (vegan roe), spicy mayo drizzle, sweet wasabi sauce, and spicy truffle sauce; Nikco featuring (konjac root shrimp), cream cheese, avocado, jalapeños, and asparagus topped with crispy fried onions, and sweet sauce drizzle; Root  showcasing ahi tunah (watermelon), mango, cucumber, and avocado, topped with micro-greens and yuzu lemon pearls (vegan roe), spicy truffle sauce, spicy mayo, and sweet wasabi sauce; and Truffle Edamame with truffle edamame paste, avocado, fried potato strings, and asparagus topped with sweet sauce, chopped shiso leaf, and crunchy garlic. Another popular dish is Inari – sweet Tofu Pockets filled with vegan spicy tunah and rice, topped with green onions and potato strings, spicy mayo, and sweet sauce.